Author Archives: Rory
BP, the killer they like to forgive
This week UK magazine the New Statesman announced its ranking of ’20 green heroes and villains.’ Among the ‘panel of environmental experts’ judging the awards was John Browne, the UK peer whose reputation was earned at the helm of global petrochemicals giant BP. Lord Browne may be especially well qualified to assess environmental villainy. In […]
Unions worldwide lead the leaders
The global labour movement urged President Obama and other world leaders at this month’s meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to take strong stands on issues of jobs, trade imbalances, currency policy, workers’ rights and climate change. With 59 million people expected to be unemployed worldwide by the end of the year, trade union […]
Real will produces real sustainable jobs
While there will be arguments about climate change until the sun goes out, one fact is indisputable – the decline of traditional industries and the rise of precarious work mean jobs aren’t what they used to be. Some have no work, some have too much work and some have work but not the essential employment […]
Green construction builds the economy
Green building will support 7.9 million US jobs and pump $554 billion (£336bn) into the American economy – including $396 billion (£240bn) in wages – over the next four years (2009-2013), according to a new study from the US Green Building Council and Booz Allen Hamilton. The study also determined that green construction spending currently […]
Green jobs aren’t just for white men
Efforts in the US to see that women and people of colour also benefit from the green jobs bonanza appear to be bearing fruit. A report in Working In These Times notes: “‘Green jobs’ has become the latest buzz-word, with stimulus monies pouring into green job creation programmes around the country. There is a window of […]
Get on with it, before the lights go out
With governments downplaying prospects for December’s UN climate summit and the chances of a binding agreement receding fast, the international trade union movement has called on governments to go to the Copenhagen meeting ready to make decisions that will put the world on an unequivocal path to a low-carbon future. * Cambio climático: El realismo […]
UK government launches just transition forum
Tackling climate change should be done with an eye on tackling inequalities too, the UK government has indicated. Business minister Pat McFadden this week announced the creation of a Forum for a Just Transition. It says the new body has been created to ensure that the opportunities and challenges of moving to a low carbon […]
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Lead poisoning worldwide set to rise
Widespread lead poisoning will result from the planned distribution of a billion computers to developing countries by technology companies and charities, according to a new study. “The lead from batteries needed to power these computers will result in environmental contamination and harmful exposures unless some commonsense safeguards are taken,” said Perry Gottesfeld, co-author of the […]
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Hey, you, got something to say?
So, you want better jobs, green jobs, decent jobs and you’ve got a good idea how to get them? Then tell us about it. The Global Union Research Network (GURN) has launching a call for papers, jointly with the global union confederation ITUC. The network wants to receive papers on four themes: Social consequences of […]
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First lead, now mercury makes a toxic comeback